SHIMLA: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said  nearly 50 percent road networks in the state have been covered under PMGSY and this led to all round progress and prosperity of especially rural areas of the state.

He said lakhs of masks, sanitizers and food kits were distributed free of cost to the people in need. The Chief Minister was addressing a public gathering at Dari today under Dharamshala Assembly Constituency to celebrate 75 years of formation of Himachal Pradesh.

Jai Ram Thakur said that the opposition did nothing during this testing time and were busy in politicizing this sensitive issue.

The Chief Minister said that there were only 301 educational institutions in the State at the time of its formation, whereas today the number has gone up to 16,124.

He said per capita income was only Rs. 240 which today has crossed the magical mark of Rs. 2 lakh.

Referring to the documentary film screened in the function, he said people of the State used to cross rivers with the help of inflated skin of buffalo, now people have bridges.

Paying gratitude to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vaypayee, Jai Ram  Thakur said entire credit for link road networks across the state goes to Atal Bihari Vajpayee who also had a deep affection with Himachalis and the state.

Nearly 50 percent road networks in the state have been covered under PMGSY and this led to all round progress and prosperity of especially rural areas of the state, he added.